Patents by Inventor Calvin D. Cummings
Calvin D. Cummings has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 8159725Abstract: A method of forming an image on recording media includes providing a rotatable imaging drum adapted for supporting the recording media; providing an imaging head adapted for forming the image on the supported recording media; providing an encoder adapted for detecting incremental rotational positions of the imaging drum; positioning the imaging drum at a non-incremental rotational position; detecting one or more points on an edge of the supported recording media while the imaging drum is positioned at the non-incremental rotational position; determining a position of each of the detected one or more points; and operating the imaging head to form the image on the supported recording media in alignment with at least the determined position of each of the detected one or more points.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2008Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Calvin D. Cummings, Peter J. Hawes
-
Patent number: 8154572Abstract: The calibration of an imaging system is adjusted for geometric distortion of an image formed by a group of imaging channels on a media supported on a media support. The media support includes a plurality of individually spaced reference features disposed on a surface of the media support and a change in an expected position of at least one of the reference features is determined. Activation timing of the channels is adjusted in accordance with such changes. The imaging channels can be supported on a movable carriage and movement of the carriage can be adjusted in accordance with such changes.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2007Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Calvin D. Cummings, Ali Faraz
-
Patent number: 8148704Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the alignment of printing plate (14) mounted on an imaging drum (12), and applying an image to a printing plate while maintaining registration and alignment between the image and a reference edge (15) of the printing plate include mounting the printing plate on a plate-making machine (10) and then determining the locations of at least two points on the reference edge. The locations of two or more points are used to determine a transformation that is applied to image data to yield transformed image data (27). The transformed image data is used to image the printing plate. A method and apparatus for determining the locations of the points using backlighting avoids errors encountered in illuminating from the top.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2010Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Calvin D. Cummings, Allan Warnes, Peter Hawes
-
Publication number: 20110005418Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the alignment of printing plate (14) mounted on an imaging drum (12), and applying an image to a printing plate while maintaining registration and alignment between the image and a reference edge (15) of the printing plate include mounting the printing plate on a plate-making machine (10) and then determining the locations of at least two points on the reference edge. The locations of two or more points are used to determine a transformation that is applied to image data to yield transformed image data (27). The transformed image data is used to image the printing plate. A method and apparatus for determining the locations of the points using backlighting avoids errors encountered in illuminating from the top.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2010Publication date: January 13, 2011Inventors: Calvin D. Cummings, Allan Warnes, Peter Hawes
-
Patent number: 7854199Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the alignment of printing plate (14) mounted on an imaging drum (12), and applying an image to a printing plate while maintaining registration and alignment between the image and a reference edge (15) of the printing plate include mounting the printing plate on a plate-making machine (10) and then determining the locations of at least two points on the reference edge. The locations of two or more points are used to determine a transformation that is applied to image data to yield transformed image data (27). The transformed image data is used to image the printing plate. A method and apparatus for determining the locations of the points using backlighting avoids errors encountered in illuminating from the top.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2007Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Calvin D. Cummings, Allan Warnes, Peter Hawes
-
Patent number: 7784402Abstract: A method for aligning the leading edge of printing plate (110) to an axially disposed slot (70) in a cylindrical surface (30) of an imaging drum (20) comprising at least one printing plate clamp (90) having a clamp surface (100) disposed parallel to the slot, the method comprising straightening (210) the leading edge against the clamp surface and positioning (220) the leading edge to protrude over the slot by rotating the imaging drum under the plate. The straightening comprises resting (200) the leading edge of the plate on the cylindrical surface of the imaging drum and rotating the imaging drum about its cylindrical axis (60) to contact with the clamp surface a point along the leading edge of the plate and to rotate the plate until its leading edge is in alignment with the clamp surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Calvin D. Cummings, Peter Hawes
-
Publication number: 20100134807Abstract: A method of forming an image on recording media includes providing a rotatable imaging drum adapted for supporting the recording media; providing an imaging head adapted for forming the image on the supported recording media; providing an encoder adapted for detecting incremental rotational positions of the imaging drum; positioning the imaging drum at a non-incremental rotational position; detecting one or more points on an edge of the supported recording media while the imaging drum is positioned at the non-incremental rotational position; determining a position of each of the detected one or more points; and operating the imaging head to form the image on the supported recording media in alignment with at least the determined position of each of the detected one or more points.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2008Publication date: June 3, 2010Inventors: Calvin D. Cummings, Peter J. Hawes
-
Patent number: 7719556Abstract: An imaging system is equipped with two or more exposure heads that are each able to image either a separate media sheet or a portion of a single media sheet loaded on a media carrier. The imaging time for any combination of media sheets is minimized by providing for the adjustment of the spacing between the dual exposure heads whenever the media configuration changes. In imaging a unitary image using two exposure heads to each image a sub-image, any discontinuity between the end of the first sub-image and the start of the next sub-image is reduced by changing the traversing speed of one of the exposure heads by a fractional amount.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2007Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Kodak Graphic Communications Canada CompanyInventors: Derrick Kevin To, Calvin D. Cummings, Roland Wescott Montague, Remy Dawson, Guy Sirton
-
Patent number: 7669529Abstract: An apparatus for mounting and demounting a materials sheet onto and from a cylindrical surface of a drum (10) has clamps (40) pivotably arranged upon the sheet materials drum. The clamps have a first region (80) and a second region (70) either side of a pivot axis. The second region (70) clamps the materials sheet to the cylindrical surface (20) of the drum. A backbone (120) extends along the length of the drum and is removably attached to the drum. Push rods (90) movably arranged on the backbone are capable of being operated to push against the first region of the clamps to pivot the clamps to move the second region of the clamps. Any existing clasped materials sheet is thereby unclasped from the cylindrical surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2007Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Calvin D. Cummings, Lon W. McIlwraith
-
Publication number: 20090151580Abstract: An apparatus for mounting and demounting a materials sheet onto and from a cylindrical surface of a drum (10) has clamps (40) pivotably arranged upon the sheet materials drum. The clamps have a first region (80) and a second region (70) either side of a pivot axis. The second region (70) clamps the materials sheet to the cylindrical surface (20) of the drum. A backbone (120) extends along the length of the drum and is removably attached to the drum. Push rods (90) movably arranged on the backbone are capable of being operated to push against the first region of the clamps to pivot the clamps to move the second region of the clamps. Any existing clasped materials sheet is thereby unclasped from the cylindrical surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2007Publication date: June 18, 2009Inventors: Calvin D. Cummings, Lon W. Mcllwraith
-
Publication number: 20080314274Abstract: An unload table (50) for a plate making machine comprises an unload table proximal segment (194) proximate the cylindrical surface (120) of the imaging drum (110) of the plate making machine. The unload table proximal segment can tilt to receive a printing plate (40) being unloaded from the imaging drum. In a further embodiment the unload table itself can also tilt about another axis, allowing the unload table and unload table proximal segment to remain clear of any fixtures on the rotating imaging drum, thereby allowing a printing plate imaged on the imaging drum while the unload table and unload table proximal segment are moving in to a unloading orientation. This enhances the throughput of the plate making machine by reducing the total time required for bulky unload tables to reposition and re-orient for unloading of printing plates.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2007Publication date: December 25, 2008Inventor: Calvin D. Cummings
-
Publication number: 20080299470Abstract: The calibration of an imaging system is adjusted for geometric distortion of an image formed by a group of imaging channels on a media supported on a media support. The media support includes a plurality of individually spaced reference features disposed on a surface of the media support and a change in an expected position of at least one of the reference features is determined. Activation timing of the channels is adjusted in accordance with such changes. The imaging channels can be supported on a movable carriage and movement of the carriage can be adjusted in accordance with such changes.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2007Publication date: December 4, 2008Inventors: Calvin D. Cummings, Ali Faraz
-
Patent number: 7456379Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the alignment of printing plate mounted on an imaging drum, and applying an image to a printing plate while maintaining registration and alignment between the image and a reference edge of the printing plate include mounting the printing plate on a plate making machine and then determining the locations of at least one point on the reference edge. The locations of two or more points are used to determine a transformation that is applied to image data to yield transformed image data. The transformed image data is used to image the printing plate.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2005Date of Patent: November 25, 2008Assignee: Kodak Graphic Communications Canada CompanyInventors: Richard Neufeld, Calvin D. Cummings, Allan Warnes
-
Publication number: 20080264287Abstract: A method for aligning the leading edge of printing plate (110) to an axially disposed slot (70) in a cylindrical surface (30) of an imaging drum (20) comprising at least one printing plate clamp (90) having a clamp surface (100) disposed parallel to the slot, the method comprising straightening (210) the leading edge against the clamp surface and positioning (220) the leading edge to protrude over the slot by rotating the imaging drum under the plate. The straightening comprises resting (200) the leading edge of the plate on the cylindrical surface of the imaging drum and rotating the imaging drum about its cylindrical axis (60) to contact with the clamp surface a point along the leading edge of the plate and to rotate the plate until its leading edge is in alignment with the clamp surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2007Publication date: October 30, 2008Inventors: Calvin D. Cummings, Peter Hawes
-
Publication number: 20080236426Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the alignment of printing plate (14) mounted on an imaging drum (12), and applying an image to a printing plate while maintaining registration and alignment between the image and a reference edge (15) of the printing plate include mounting the printing plate on a plate-making machine (10) and then determining the locations of at least two points on the reference edge. The locations of two or more points are used to determine a transformation that is applied to image data to yield transformed image data (27). The transformed image data is used to image the printing plate. A method and apparatus for determining the locations of the points using backlighting avoids errors encountered in illuminating from the top.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2007Publication date: October 2, 2008Inventors: Calvin D. Cummings, Allan Warnes, Peter Hawes
-
Patent number: 7256811Abstract: An imaging system is equipped with two or more exposure heads that are each able to image either a separate media sheet or a portion of a single media sheet loaded on a media carrier. The imaging time for any combination of media sheets is minimized by providing for the adjustment of the spacing between the dual exposure heads whenever the media configuration changes. In imaging a unitary image using two exposure heads to each image a sub-image, any discontinuity between the end of the first sub-image and the start of the next sub-image is reduced by changing the traversing speed of one of the exposure heads by a fractional amount.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2003Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: Kodak Graphic Communications Canada CompanyInventors: Derrick Kevin To, Calvin D. Cummings, Roland Wescott Montague, Remy Dawson, Guy Sirton
-
Publication number: 20040130613Abstract: An imaging system is equipped with two or more exposure heads that are each able to image either a separate media sheet or a portion of a single media sheet loaded on a media carrier. The imaging time for any combination of media sheets is minimized by providing for the adjustment of the spacing between the dual exposure heads whenever the media configuration changes. In imaging a unitary image using two exposure heads to each image a sub-image, any discontinuity between the end of the first sub-image and the start of the next sub-image is reduced by changing the traversing speed of one of the exposure heads by a fractional amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2003Publication date: July 8, 2004Applicant: Creo Inc.Inventors: Derrick Kevin To, Calvin D. Cummings, Roland Wescott Montague, Remy Dawson, Guy Sirton
-
Patent number: 6755132Abstract: A surface for a plate handling machine is movable in a plate handling direction relative to the plate handling machine. The surface has at least two groups of stops. The stops permit various arrangements of plates to be registered on the surface. Two smaller-sized plates or one larger-sized plate can be registered on the surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2003Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: Creo Inc.Inventor: Calvin D. Cummings